The character of Doctor Sheldon Cooper on the CBS program The Big Bang Theory is what The Coyote from the Bugs Bunny cartoons would call a "super-genius", someone not only very intelligent, but so intelligent that they are actually stupid about things most people take for granted; social interactions, interpersonal communication, sarcasm…but it was during one episode of the series when his Mother, Mary, played by the wonderful Laurie Metcalf, tries to explain that sometimes being smart and letting everyone know how smart a person is may not be the best way to proceed, when Dr. Cooper inquires why, she replies quite loudly, "Because people don't like it," and it is a shame that I find myself in that position again, having to explain something, at least the way I see it, that it is obvious they do not see and they are going to be pissed or discount what I have to say because it goes against their beliefs, the lies they've told themselves.
It's quite simply this one statement that will make me either a pariah or a kook, but in reality should be able to stand on its own. The whole Phil Robertson of Duck Commander fame and A&E Network fall-out, backlash, and reinstatement was nothing but a ploy, masterfully calculated and implemented by someone at the network, probably with full knowledge and participation by the Robertson family or at least their agents or representatives. It was designed to do what it was intended to do, it got people talking about the show, and it got placated the irate fans, guaranteeing that the network and everyone with a finger in the pie of this latest "reality" show craze will reap the benefits…including the family members who are so religiously above all the nonsense. Yes, I am positive they are a "religious" family, in their way. I've discussed here and elsewhere the family history. This has actually nothing to do with the Robertson family, their beliefs, their faith or anything else other than avarice, greed, and manipulation.
The network probably arranged for the QG interviewer to be conveniently left alone with Phil to make certain embarrassing quotes would be given that would be inflammatory to many different diverse societal divisions. The network executives probably read the interview before it went to press. The resulting backlash not only from the LGBT community but also the NAACP was expected and anticipated. A&E appears to make concessions, suspending Phil Robertson from filming. Were they filming when they suspended him? So, for the six or seven days of his suspension, which was over the Christmas build-up days and post-days, he wasn't being filmed, but the rest of the family was? They, as Christians wanted to have camera people, staffs of individuals working instead of being with their families so they could make another episode and get paid another paycheck? Sounds Christian. Anyway, back to the point.
A&E appears to appease the outraged societal concerns. Social media, long identified as a useful marketing and manipulation tool by the Corporations, sounds off and backs the movement to "Support Phil"…the network is vilified as the enemy of Free Speech and Free Expression and is appearing to concede to public opinion and reinstate Phil Robertson. And the play goes on. For another year the money making Gold Calf of Duck Dynasty will reign supreme on the shopping lists of Americans, and The Sheep will continue to praise, celebrate and purchase whatever the Puppet Masters at the Corporation tell them to.
See what I mean by my intro? People will be mad; they will see me as attacking the Robertsons, because true fans of the series believe they honestly know these people. But these people are not like you and me. They are Salt of the Earth people, even though they share some of the same values, habits, traditions, and feelings that you do, they are not like you; they are actors in a "reality" show. That is tantamount to believing that the professional wrestlers fighting each other on your television screen are really angry with each other, it is "entertainment"…it is not real. If this were Ancient Greece you would be going to see the Christians fed to the Lions, but it is not, this is the mindless entertainment that is provided for you by The Corporation to satisfied and satiate you until it no longer is effective, then they will change the Game and give you another Golden Calf to praise.
"Beware the Trappings of Fame." Fame changes everyone. The most innocent little girl, hired for a television commercial will easily turn into a nightmare of demands and hysterical fits when their smallest whim is not met. Imagine what a full-grown person would do? Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely. The Corporation is that innocent little girl, born to create something to pacify the people, to make a Man feel good when he returns home from his daily toil. At first it was Radio programs, The Adventures of Boston Blackie, Amos & Andy, and The Jack Benny Show but it was replaced by Television, The One-Eyed Monster that captures our attention in our youth. Many alive today grew up with Television as our Baby-Sitters, raised on cartoons, Sesame Street, The Electric Company, Saturday Morning Cartoons…and that is when The Corporation had us. They would show us Commercials, tell us what Christmas and Birthday gifts we wanted, and our Parents would buy them, to Satisfy us, to Satiate us. It told us what to drink, what to eat, what clothes to wear, the list goes on and on.
Today we are Sheep, well….not all of us, but most of us. We respond like the mindless Puppets we can be. But there is an answer. Unplug. Turn Off the Corporation. If you believe in the morals, the ethics, the religious overtones that the Robertson family claims to represent, then the best way to strike back at the ones that would not let him have his Freedom of Speech, the best way to strike back at those that returned him to the screens is to stop watching all together. But you'll never see a Boycott Duck Dynasty Facebook group. You'll see no Hashtag flood with #DownwithDuckDynasty. Because the Sheep need to eat, so if you are still reading this to the end, I know you are not necessarily one of the Sheep but the Sheep, if they even clicked to the whole article or not, probably did not read to the end, so could care less…it's time to Feed The Sheep and soon it will be time to Shear Them. Good Night and Have a Pleasant Tomorrow.
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